What is litho printing? Everything you need to know

Litho printing – short for lithographic printing and also known as offset printing – is a method used to produce high-quality, cost-effective prints, especially in large volumes.

It’s commonly used by businesses for leaflets, brochures, flyers and other marketing materials, partly due to the sharp detail and consistent colour it delivers.

If you’re looking to learn more about litho printing, this is the article for you.

We’ll be looking at:

How litho printing works
Digital vs litho printing
Common uses and benefits of litho printing
How to choose the right method for your needs

Understanding litho printing and how it works

Litho printing is based on the principle that oil and water don’t mix.

Developed in the late 18th century, the process was originally used for reproducing artwork but has evolved into a high-speed, high-quality commercial printing method, particularly valued for its ability to deliver consistent, sharp results at scale. This makes it a popular choice for businesses requiring large print runs.

Here’s a quick overview of how it works:

Plate creation: Separate aluminium printing plates are produced for each colour in the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) spectrum. These plates are etched with the design areas that will receive ink.
Dampening: The plates are moistened with a water-based solution, which clings to non-image areas.
Inking: Oil-based ink is applied next. It sticks only to the image areas that repel the water.
Offset transfer: The inked image is transferred (offset) from the plate to a rubber blanket, and then from the blanket onto the paper.
Drying and finishing: Sheets are dried quickly and can be trimmed, folded or bound as needed.

Modern litho printing presses are incredibly advanced. Bishops Printers – our parent company – is recognised by press manufacturer Heidelberg as the largest B2 sheet-fed litho operation in Europe.

Four of our six litho presses feature Inpress Control – a system that ensures colour accuracy and reduces paper waste by a third during the make-ready process, improving both quality and sustainability.

Litho printing vs digital printing

You might be wondering how litho printing compares to digital printing, and which one is the better choice for your business.

Here’s a quick comparison highlighting some of the key differences between these methods:

	Litho printing	Digital printing
Best for	Large print runs	Small batches
Cost efficiency	More cost-effective at scale	Lower setup costs
Turnaround time	Slightly longer	Quick
Paper range	Wide variety	Some limitations
Personalisation options	Can be overprinted at a later date	Unlimited options, including images, bespoke envelopes and paperwrap

Key benefits of litho printing

In an era when digital dominates everything, you might still be wondering what makes litho printing such an appealing option for businesses.

High-quality end results, volume, cost effectiveness and choice are key parts of the answer.

Here are some of the specific benefits you can expect to see if you choose this method:

Image quality and colour accuracy: Litho printing provides sharp detail, rich colour depth and consistent output. It’s an excellent option if you’re printing carefully developed designs that demand precision.
Cost-effectiveness at scale: Although setup costs can be higher, the per-unit price drops significantly with larger print runs, making it a good investment for bulk orders.
Variety in paper and ink options: From textured stocks to metallic inks, litho presses handle a wide range of custom finishes that digital methods can’t always replicate.
Suitable for large-volume runs: Litho printing is built for scale. It gives you the capacity to produce thousands of leaflets, brochures or catalogues, for example, with consistent quality throughout.

Common use cases for litho printing

The precision and scalability of litho printing make it an appealing option for businesses that need polished, professional marketing materials.

It’s especially useful if you’re looking to make a visual impact on your audience or when you need large quantities of printed items and don’t want to compromise on quality.

Some of the most common use cases include:

Printing high-volume promotional or informational campaigns featuring leaflets, brochures, flyers or magazines
Producing consistently branded business stationery such as letterheads and compliment slips
Creating high-end marketing materials that rely on excellent colour quality and visual impact to represent your brand

Choosing the right printing method for your needs

Before committing to a print project, it’s important to ask some key questions.

For example:

How many copies are required?
What level of print quality do you need?
Are you interested in custom finishes or specific paper types?
What’s your budget and ideal turnaround time?

The answers to these questions will help you decide whether litho printing is the best option for your campaign.

It’s generally more cost-effective for large runs, offers excellent image quality and supports a broad range of finishes and materials. However, if you’re looking for a rapid turnaround and also want maximum flexibility to personalise your mailings, digital printing could be more suitable.

When you have lots of factors to take into account, it’s always wise to talk to an experienced mailing house like The Mailing People. We can help you unpack the various printing, fulfilment and postage options available and make the best choices for your future campaigns. Get in touch with us.